Historian predicts that California's liberal political landscape may experience a "reawakening" following the wildfire disaster.

Historian Victor Davis Hanson predicts that Californians may experience a "reawakening" that could cause a "political shock" among the nation's top decision-makers after the state's response to the Los Angeles wildfires exposed its vulnerability and leadership failures.

According to Hanson, a senior fellow at the Hoover Institution, there is a group of people in California who could spark a rebellion among liberals or Democrats.

The wealthy individuals living on the coastline who lost their homes due to the wildfires that started on January 7th could be included in that group. Several celebrities, including filmmaker Mel Gibson and actor Michael Rapaport, have publicly criticized California's leadership for its handling of the crisis as the fire ravaged several Los Angeles neighborhoods.

Hanson stated that the shock of LA is mainly due to the fact that the majority of people who were burned out in Pacific Palisades and the surrounding areas were extremely left-wing and wealthy. Politically, this is surprising because their votes and ideology have never had a direct impact on their personal lives.

According to Hanson, the situation will serve as an accelerant or a force multiplier because it impacts two distinct groups of people. Firstly, it affects the wealthy, who have experienced firebombing for the first time, reminiscent of Dresden. This event is expected to result in a significant financial impact, with estimates ranging from $300 to $400 billion. Additionally, the wealthy will have to deal with the Coastal Commission, the Los Angeles Planning Commission, and obtain permits for construction, which will likely make them furious.

"After this, it seems unlikely that any California politician will have a significant national presence."

The absence of Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass during the first 24 hours of the inferno, coupled with empty hydrants, a malfunctioning reservoir, a defunded fire department, and a lack of new water infrastructure, despite Gov. Gavin Newsom's backing of billions for new reservoirs, highlighted severe flaws in the state's response, as noted by lawmakers and experts.

The bureaucracy of the state has been criticized due to its response to the crisis. In response, Newsom signed an executive order on Sunday to suspend certain state commission requirements, with the aim of speeding up the rebuilding process for homeowners.

""Through an executive order, we are simplifying the rebuilding process for SoCal fire victims," Newsom stated in a post on X."

Hanson questioned why the order couldn't be done earlier, before the fire.

Over the past few years, California has lost hundreds of thousands of residents to red states, with many of them citing high taxes, unaffordable housing, crime, and difficult business regulations as reasons for their departure.

Numerous individuals who were previously residents of California have migrated to states with lower taxes and more favorable business climates, including Texas, Florida, Tennessee, and North Carolina. Additionally, prominent corporations such as Tesla, Oracle, Charles Schwab, and Chevron have also established operations in other states.

In 2023 and 2024, California experienced the largest net domestic migration loss in the country, with nearly 240,000 people leaving the state, according to the Census Bureau. During the same time period, the state also saw a net loss of over 700,000 residents between April 2020 and July 2022.

Hanson stated that the people are becoming increasingly angry about the difficulties in conducting business and the high gasoline prices. He believes that a skilled and intelligent Republican candidate or political figure could take advantage of this situation. However, the Republican Party is unsure of how to proceed, as they do not know whether to move left to accommodate the left-wing population or move further right to energize it.

"No dissenting voices were present, but I believe that will change after what we witnessed."